Quotes
Finish the quote: "All Europe contributed to the making of ________"
Kurtz
Which character does Marlow describe as "amazing" and "a miracle"?
The Chief Accountant
The knitting women at the Company HQ hint to the reader that those who visit the Congo may meet a dark fate. What literary device is this an example of?
Foreshadowing
How many countries does Heart of Darkness take place in?
Three - England, Belgium, The Congo
Name one key theme of Heart of Darkness.
Imperialism, racism, greed, humanity, civilisation, moral corruption, etc
What is Marlow referring to when he says, "The snake had charmed me?"
The Congo River on the map tempted him to visit.
Which character refers to Marlow as an "emissary of light"?
Marlow's Aunt
Identify the literary device used in this passage: "The air was warm, thick, heavy, sluggish."
Imagery or sensory description
Which famous river are Marlow and the narrator on at the beginning of the story?
After working with the cannibals on his boat, Marlow realises that the Africans are more _________ to him that he realised.
Similar
Who does Marlow describe as a "Papier-mache Mephistopheles"?
The Brickmaker
Who left the pile of wood and the note for Marlow to find on his journey to the Inner Station?
The Russian/The Harlequin
Identify the literary device within this quote:
"The wilderness had patted him on the head, and, behold, it was like a methodical boudoir is the other, thing, had got him,—sectors like that, loved him, embraced him, entered his veins, ate his flesh, and sealed his soul."
Personification
What major plot point occurs after the white fog settles around the boat?
Marlow's boat is attacked by a Congolese tribe.
Kurtz scrawls "exterminate all the brutes" at the end of his report for the International Society for the Suppression of Savage Customs. What theme does this relate to and why?
The violence of imperialism, the corruption or dark side of humanity, the hypocrisy of imperialism etc
Finish this quote from Marlow describing the voice of Kurtz: "It echoed loudly within him because he was _______ at the core."
Hollow
Which character says the following quote?
"I am proud to know I understood him better than any one on earth – he told me so himself."
The Intended
Provide an example of a biblical allusion within the text.
- The whited sepulchre - originates from a bible verse about hypocrisy
- The "snake had charmed me" - alludes to the snake that tempted Eve.
Marlow finds himself annoyed by other people after returning to Europe. Why?
Because they have not been through his experience and know nothing about the truths of humanity, civilisation, imperialism etc.
What theme does the following quote relate to? "His soul was mad. Being alone in the wilderness, it had looked within itself".
Moral corruption, darkness of humanity, civilisation hiding the true nature of people, etc
Marlow famously says, "You know I hate, detest and can't bear a lie". Provide one example from the play that supports this, and one example that contradicts this.
Supports: Marlow hates the hypocrisy of the Manager and the facade of the Company
Contradicts: Marlow lies to Kurtz's Intended at the end of the play.
Other possible answers.
The Helmsman
Identify three symbols from Heart of Darkness and what they represent.
Whited sepulchre, ivory, light, rivets, snake, chief accountant, knitting women, white fog, etc.
Very in his journey, Marlow witnesses two events that demonstrate the pointlessness violence of imperialism. What are they?
The French Man-o-War firing into the wilderness, and the explosives being used on a cliff during a railway construction.
(Could also accept the chain gang or grove of death)
Marlow respects people who work hard. Name one character he respects because of this and one character who he does not respect because of this.
Respects: Helmsman, cannibals,
Does not respect: Brickmaker, manager